Peníscola

Peñíscola

Member of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España

Fagairolles 34Peniscola plages CC BY-SA 4.0
Jakob Montrasio2019-08-04 - Peniscola - 8040181 - 50394487816 CC BY 2.0
FevLavadero municipal Peñíscola 1977Public domain
Elisa MarianiniPeniscola (1)CC BY-SA 4.0
Elisa MarianiniPeniscola castello dei templari (1)CC BY-SA 4.0
Grodin.tiercePeniscola from the beach. Year 1985 CC BY-SA 3.0
Juan Emilio Prades BelPlaya Sur de Peñiscola CC BY-SA 4.0
Juan Emilio Prades BelPuerto pesquero de Peñiscola CC BY-SA 4.0
Rastrojo (D•ES)Vista diurna del casco histórico de Peñíscola CC BY-SA 4.0
Rastrojo (D•ES)Vista nocturna del casco histórico de Peñíscola CC BY-SA 4.0

Joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, a rocky headland carries Peníscola's walled old town, crowned by the castle the Knights Templar built between 1294 and 1307. The schismatic pope Benedict XIII, Papa Luna, lived out his last years here, and the castle later stood in for Valencia in the film El Cid. Long beaches run north and south, with the wild Serra d'Irta beyond.

Highlights

The Castell del Papa Luna, with terrace views over town and coast
El Bufador, a cavern where the sea escapes in clouds of spray
Casa de las Conchas, its façades entirely covered in seashells
Hiking and cycling in the Serra d'Irta natural park and marine reserve
Summer festivals of early and baroque music, and of jazz

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Peñíscola (ES), Peniscola, Peñíscola (IT)), Wikivoyage (Peñiscola). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 8,774

Things to see

Badum Tower (ES)
Marjal de Peníscola (ES)
Church of Santa Maria, Peniscola (ES)
Museu de la Mar (Peníscola) (ES)
Peniscola lighthouse (ES)
Peniscola port (ES)
church of Our Lady of the Ermitana (ES)
hermitage of Saint Anthony the Great (ES)

Events through the year

Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot Religious · 17 JanuaryPatronal feast of the town
Carnival Seasonal · A weekend in February
Romería to the Saint Anthony hermitage Religious · Sunday after Easter Sunday
Feast of Saint Vincent Ferrer Religious · April
Feast of Saint Peter Religious · Late JuneOpen-air dances and release of young cows
Festival de Teatro Clásico Castillo de Peñíscola Music and arts · July and August
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Peñíscola Music and arts · All of JulyInternational jazz concerts, held since 2003
Festival Internacional de Música Antigua y Barroca Music and arts · AugustOpens in early August with a pyromusical show
Ciclo de Conciertos de Música Clásica Music and arts · SeptemberClassical concerts in the castle's Gothic hall and the auditorium
Fiestas de la Virgen de la Ermitana Religious · From 7 September; main days 8 and 9Les Danses, human towers, fireworks, then Moors and Christians parades
Medieval market Fairs and markets · End of the yearHeld inside the walled old town

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikipedia (Peñíscola, Peniscola). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Translated and adapted from open data: Calendario de fiestas locales, Diputación de Castellón (CC BY 4.0).

Local food & wine

All i pebreDishStew of monkfish or small octopus with garlic and pepper
Hector Garcia from Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainSuquet de peix CC BY-SA 2.0
Suquet de peix (ES)Dish
Juan Emilio Prades BelArroz marinero, arrosejat, Peñiscola CC BY 4.0
ArrosejatDish
Jan Harenburg01 Paella Valenciana original CC BY-SA 4.0
PaellaDish
Jorge Díaz from Madrid, SpainFideua - xurde CC BY-SA 2.0
FideuàDish
OlletaDishTypical local stew